A Perfect Week

As I may have mentioned in an earlier journal entry I am on vacation this week. This was a perfect week to take as vacation. I was able to hit all the after Christmas sales, and get all of my decorations put away until next year.  Although to be honest I didn't put out as many decorations this year as I have in the past.  Part of the reason is because I usually take the week of Christmas off and have additional time to do more decorating. 

Regardless though, what fun it is to sleep in each morning, leisurely enjoying a cup of hot coffee in the morning while reading the newspaper. I can make plans and go to lunch in the afternoons with friends or dinner in the evenings - which I have done both of already!

Basically this week I have no structure. I can do anything I want, whenever I want. It's very relaxing to say the least!

I have been able to spend extra time with my girls, who frankly seem a little stumped by my presence! They are loving the extra attention they are receiving though. I've taken them both on a couple of short jaunts about town, which they love!

I dropped in to see Madison and her parents yesterday, and took Madison a new pink clothes hamper that I found on sale. It will be perfect for her dirty clothes. (Danelle mentioned she was looking for one and I happened upon a buy of a lifetime!)

I bought a couple of bags of tulip bulbs to plant as soon as the ground thaws in a day or two. We never have really cold weather for long. Our climate is actually quite mild. Although it's been quite cold here the last day or so and snow is in our forecast for later tonight. We'll see how the local weathermen do with their prediction.

Well, that's all for now. I will write more either this evening or tomorrow. Right now, it's off to Wal-Mart!

Have a great day!

I Recommend It!

I feel compelled to let you all know about this great cold remedy that my sister, Kim told me about. 

First let me qualify Kim as an advisor of sorts.  She is a pharmacy technician - a good one, who knows her stuff.  She works for a major health insurance company and is up to date on all the latest.

If you feel like you are getting a cold, or even if you already have one try ZICAM COLD REMEDY NOSE GEL.  It's an over the counter product.  I've used the stuff a couple of times this fall/winter season and wouldn't be without it.  I keep it at work, in my purse and at home.  Once you feel like you are getting a cold or scratchy throat - USE IT! 

This stuff's the bomb!  :)

Madison's First Christmas

This was an extra special Christmas this year for my family because this was Madison's first Christmas. At 6 1/2 months old she is the apple of everyone's eye, and this proved to be a special time of year!

Christmas Eve I went to some friend's house and celebrated with their families. I've known these folks for about 30 years and my son grew up with their children. All through the 70's, 80's, 90's and now into the millenium, we have spent a lot of time together. Wonderful times, I might add. I feel so close to these people that I think of them as family. We had a big potluck dinner, and every one brought their favorite dish. Gosh, there was more food that you could imagine. We ate, we laughed, and we reminisced. What fun! I hated to see the night end.

Christmas Day I went to Steve and Danelle's house. They have it beautifully decorated for Christmas. The tree is magnificent! I supplied the dinner and we had ham, scalloped potatoes and broccoli salad. I took fresh whole Fuji apples with caramel dipping sauce for dessert.

While the ham was warming, Steve made us a cocktail and we went in around the tree and watched as Madison opened her gifts first, while we all took pictures. Oh! She got mad when Daddy took the ribbons away from her, trying to encourage her to rip open the paper on each package. It was so cute! The first sign of a strong- minded girl! Gee, I wonder who she gets that from? LOL!

After we opened our gifts I fed Maddie and Danelle set the table. Madison sat in her highchair beside me and watched patiently while the adults ate.

After dinner, we all retired around the TV and watched AMERICAN IDOL- WORLD competition. Madison fell asleep on my lap and I must admit that I dozed a bit too. After Madison was tucked into bed I made my exit.

Another Christmas is behind us, but we have a New Year to look forward to with lots of exciting times. I can hardly wait!

Happy New Year to each of you, and I hope that it is as blessed as mine is right now!

Broccoli Salad

BROCCOLI SALAD

 

3 large stalks of broccoli chopped

 ¾ cup sunflower seeds

1 bunch green onion, chopped

¾ cup chopped almonds

½ pound bacon fried, drained and crumbled

 ¾ cup golden raisins

 

 

DRESSING

1 ½ cups Mayonnaise

3 T. Vinegar

6 T. Sugar

Mix all together with dressing. Chill for several hours or overnight if possible.

 

Merry Christmas

Boy, have I been busy or what?  All that last minute shopping for little things - and the sales in some of the stores have been pretty good too.  I always think I'm done but end up finding at least one more gift for each person! 

I usually take the week of Christmas off, but I had to work it this year.  I have next week off though - so that I can rest!  LOL!

Steve, Danelle and Madison came over last evening after they finished up their last minute shopping.  Steve wanted to give Danelle his gift so that she could wear it on Christmas Eve, and he wanted me to see her open it.  He bought her a pair of beautiful 1/2 carat diamond earrings!  She was so surprised because he had her believing that he was buying her a Muppet collectible.  What a look on her face when she tore into that big box to find a small one inside!  She was so thrilled!  Madison sat on my lap the whole time trying to eat the wrapping paper - lol!

Well, I have to go into work early this morning so must be running.  I just wanted to wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas!  Be good to each other and don't forget to hug the ones you love!

Hugs to all of you!

Robyn 

Not Again!

My sister has told me for years that nothing bad ever happens to me because I am a good person and therefore have good karma. That compliment has always made me feel pretty good. But isn't karma, whether good or bad, all relative to some extent?

Yesterday was a beautiful day in the Pacific Northwest. With blue sky overhead and the sun beaming down, the temperature was in the mid-to high 50's. I put a roast on and decided to go outside and clean up some leaves. The weather was delightful and I was done before I knew it.

I had planned to go to the Mall after dinner to exchange a couple of Christmas items, but since the outdoor cleanup didn't take nearly as long as I thought, I decided to shower and run my errand now.

I found a parking place right outside the store, and figured that it wouldn't take me more than 15 minutes to exchange my two items and I'd be on my way home. I'd been so busy in the afternoon that I'd neglected to eat lunch, and now I was starved!

Throwing the car keys in my purse, I jumped out and ran around to the passenger side to retrieve my return items. Reaching for the door handle I realized all too soon that it was locked. In fact, the whole damned car was locked up tighter than a drum, with my purse sitting neatly on the front seat, the car keys lying on top of my purse as if mocking me. I couldn't believe this was happening to me again! Not more than a month ago I suffered at my own hands in much the same way. I immediately started to silently berate myself, but before I could get too emersed in my self-deprecation I saw the yellow flashing lights of Mall security!

To make a long story short, I was able to finally summon Mall security, who came to the rescue (or so I thought at the time). The young man tried to 'jimmy' the door open but to no avail. We had to resort to calling a professional.

Two hours and $46.95 later my car was open and I was walking into the store.

Trust me, karma is relative.

Rude Tranquility

I think the best time of the day is the morning. The early morning is my favorite time of day. I wake refreshed and while it seems the rest of the world is still sleeping, I am up very early making coffee and immediately start planning the day that lay before me.

I like to be the first one up because for some reason it gives me a sense of adventure, or so it seems. If someone has toilet papered someone's tree, I will be the first to see it; if a stray cat is roaming about I will be the first to feed it; if the bud of a flower begins to open I will be the first to witness it.

I'm alone for a while in my corner of the world, emersed in quiet peace and tranquility. It's a time I can pray and be one with my God; take the time to assess the world's problems without anyone interrupting me; reminisce about the joys and pain of the past or wonder about what the future holds. I can read another chapter in my book, or update my AOL journal.

And then I hear the patter of little paws, and around the corner my girls come running with their ears laid back, little bodies wriggling with excitement to greet me! They jump onto my lap, licking my face and knocking my book from my hands, vying for my full attention.

The peace and quiet was nice while it lasted, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Awesome

A friend emailed these awesome pictures to me, and I wanted to share them with all of you.  They are just breathtaking!  I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Letter From The Heart

Yesterday I received a Christmas card from my one and only niece, Stacie. Within that card was another card in it's own little envelope neatly addressed to me. It read like this:

October 27, 2003

Aunt Robyn!

How the heck are you? I hope very well! I have been meaning to write to you for months. To tell you the truth, I did once. It never got mailed because I didn't have any stamps! It sat there so damn long I finally had to just throw it away. This is round 2. However, I still am lacking in the postage area. I am hoping this will help me remember! J Anyway, I am sure you want to know why I am writing to you-why I don't just call. That's because anybody can say thank you. I think it means more to take the time and write it. This way you will never doubt that I mean it from the bottom of my heart.

Earlier tonight, I was going through some stuff, and I came across the card you and Mom gave me from Grandma. I don't think I have ever had such a spectacular (did I spell that right?) surprise. I was not expecting that at all. Thank you. Thank you for thinking enough of me as a person, that you would trust me with something as special as Grandma's ring. I know you guys have not parted with much, if anything, of Grandmas. It just warms my heart to know that I am loved so much. Like I told my Mom, (also in a card) I think Grandma wanted me to have her ring for a reason. I think she wanted me to think of her often -and I do. That ring will never be mine. I will always consider it Grandmas. She sure does put a smile on my face a lot - I hope she can see it. I hope that I have made your day a little brighter too! It's just really important for me to let you know I appreciated what you have done for me.

Anyway, now that I have taken up half of your day with the book I just wrote to you-I should probably let you go!

Have a great day! Love ya!

Stacie

P.S.  I wasn't English major, so you will have to overlook any mistakes! And-these damn cards don't have spell check!

On the back of that little envelope read:

P.S.  I just now bought stamps - that's why it took so long!

Madison's First Christmas Picture With Santa

The Puppet

I bought the cutest hand puppet the other day!  It's a dog, wearing a Santa's hat, and he will "bark" out 3 different Christmas songs.  The cute thing about this toy is that you have to make the dog bark by moving your hand inside to the beat of each song.  It's kind of hard to explain, but loads of fun!

Anyway, I bought the thing with Madison in mind.  I thought she'd be quite taken with it, but I was wrong.  She looked at it a couple of times and back at me.  She could really have cared less.  And try as I might to get her interested, she's a girl of her own mind and simply was not impressed with Grammy's new toy.  In fact, the only impression I was making on the child was proving myself to be an idiot!  LOL!

Not to worry.  My $5.99 didn't go to waste!  My girls LOVED it!  They barked back!  They tried to bite it!  They tried to sniff under its tail!  They tried to grab it out of my hands!  They whimpered, they cried and they jumped all over trying to get closer to it!  It was a sight to see.  We had fun playing with it and they seemed genuinely perturbed when I put it up. 

I'll save it for next year and perhaps Madison will be more taken with it then.  For now I'll just have to entertain the girls with this new "toy"!   

 

The Bells are Ringing

I had grown to despise hearing and seeing those people who stand in front of the stores with their little red shiny pots, ringing loud and obnoxious bells every Christmas.

Bundled up to weather any storm, these seemingly nomadic people are at every entrance constantly ringing those bells, and trying to glean whatever attention they can from the steady stream of shoppers. Hoping beyond hope that some divine intervention will move the shoppers to open their hearts, minds and wallets, and divert some monetary support to their little red pot.

The bell ringers are rather bold and unapologetic when they look you straight in the eye and smile, calling out loudly and cheerfully a holiday greeting whether you leave a donation or not. Many will even hold the door open for you, and scurry to pick up whatever you may have dropped. And they do all this while constantly and methodically ringing their bells.

These gatherers, of sorts, are not embarrassed by their place in society. In fact they seem like a rather proud lot; like they are of a chosen few. And they are not afraid of rejection! Why, some people will walk past them as if they don't even exist! Others will dig deep into their pockets and pull out whatever they can afford to give. Some just reiterate a greeting, muttering under their breath so that it can barely be heard. But regardless of the outcome, the bell ringers do not waiver. They are always kind, considerate, thoughtful and persistent.

This holiday season I have for some unknown reason had a change of heart. The bell ringers suddenly don't aggravate me, and I don't find their bells annoying either. While I have always donated my spare change to their pots every year, this year finds me digging a bit deeper.

Last night I stopped by the grocery store to pick up a few things, and as I was leaving I dropped some money in the shiny red pot. The woman ringing the bell thanked me and wished me a Merry Christmas as usual.

It was a cold, blustery night and the thought of a Starbucks Mocha coffee sounded really good to me. There is a Starbucks shop right in the same area, so I drove across the lot and parked. Inside, I ordered my Mocha and suddenly had an inspirational idea. I ordered a hot chocolate for the bell ringer.

As I left the parking lot the bell was ringing in one hand and the hot cocoa was gratefully in the other.

Gasoline Alley

A few years ago somebody in Washington State got the bright idea to get rid of full service gas stations and go to self-service. They used the campaign ploy that if we went to self-service the price of gasoline would go down. It sounded reasonable to most people and who didn't want to save some money?  Needless to say we now have self-service exclusively. 

I miss the full service stations where an attendant pumps the gas, cleans the windshield and checks the oil. I liked that kind of service. It meant that I didn't have to weather the storm, or get my hands dirty checking oil and cleaning the windshield. I didn't mind paying the few cents extra for each gallon of gas I was purchasing for that kind of service.

I generally buy unleaded premium (the middle of the road grade) and have been paying $1.65 a gallon.

Oregon borders Washington to the south, and the beautiful city of Portland Oregon lay just across the border. I work in Portland and since my commute is long, I make sure that my gas tank never gets too low.  

The other morning I realized that I needed to stop at some point for gas. Since I was already on the freeway headed south, I decided to run out at lunchtime and fill up.

I drove into the full service gas station. (Oregon is not a self-service state) The attendant cheerfully greeted me and I asked him to fill it up. In the interim he cleaned my windshield and checked my oil.

I watched the attendant scurrying around in the blustery weather while I sat in my warm, cozy car making a mental note that I was happy to pay the extra few cents a gallon to have this kind of service.

As I was pulling out of the gas station I glanced up at the sign, and realized that I had just paid the same $1.65 a gallon for the same brand and same octane of gas I always buy in the Washington self service stations!

Who's kidding whom?

What a Difference a Day Makes

 

 

Nearly everyone now knows that Suddam Hussein has been finally captured, and the world has rid itself another evil.

Imagine going from palace to hole in the ground; from limo to camel; from rubbing elbows with world leaders to rats; from enjoying seven course meals to eating out of a can. And then to realize that all of the world is watching and can see how you had declined. That must have some serious effect on one's self esteem.  At least one with an ego like Suddam. 

I don't know that any of us can imagine how the thousands upon thousands of innocent women, children and men suffered over the decades he was in power. I've been visiting some of the Iraqi blogs to gain some of their perspective. I encourage you to do the same.

Check out http://hammorabi.blogspot.com/. The Saturday 12/13/03 entry is especially enlightening. Suddam and those who worked with him spared their victims no mercy. I think it will be interesting to find out what the Iraqi people decide is Suddam's fate.

Suddam Hussein is every bit as cruel and inhumane as Hitler was. The world stood back and watched Hitler kill more than three million Jews before stepping in and doing something, and then vowed it would never happen again. Well it did.

This endeavor should never have been left up to a few countries to stop. It should have been shared around the world with all free Nations. Those that did not enter into the coalition should be ashamed of themselves.

I would be.

Sins of the Heart............part 2

One cold day in December, I was in K-Mart picking up some cold medication for Steve. I turned down an empty aisle and to my amazement there laid a roll of bills wadded up. I couldn't believe it! I looked around quickly for a possible owner but there was no one in the immediate area. How long had it laid there? I quickly grabbed the money and stuck it in my pocket. I couldn't believe my good fortune! It was as if this roll of money just fell from the heavens!

I was already planning what I would use the money for when to my dismay I heard a woman's voice, "I can't find my money! I just had it in my hand! That money was for my kid's Christmas!"

For a moment I froze and time seemed to stand still while I mulled over my next move. I knew it was wrong to take the money, but I also knew that we needed food. Suddenly I became the judge and jury, and quickly walked out of the store with woman wailing in the background. I justified my decision by reasoning that it was more important that my son eat than her kids open a gift on Christmas.

I drove straight to the grocery store trying to put the whole incident out of my mind determined to make my son a good dinner.

That night Stevie ate steak, salad and a baked potato for dinner. He was in seventh heaven. I watched as he greedily ate the steak, occasionally looking my way with a big smile.

In between ravenous bites he looked at me and asked, "Mom, why aren't you eating steak? A look of pure innocence was on his sweet face; his big blue eyes absent of any knowledge of wrongdoing. I winced inwardly and replied with a forced smile, "I'm on a diet, honey." I couldn't eat the meat that was bought with another woman's money.

A few years later I converted to Catholicism and confessed this sin to Father Kindal, the priest that baptized me. He assured me that my sin had been absolved and God had forgiven me. But my heart wasn't so sure.

It's been well over 20 years since that incident, but it has remained fresh in my mind and weighed heavy on my heart since.

Every Christmas I dig a little deeper in my pocket than the previous year to give to others in need.

And every Christmas I pray for that woman, her children and my own forgiveness.

Sins of The Heart...........part 1

Most of us, if we live long enough, will end up with one or two skeletons in our closet.  Skeletons from our past that we are at best ashamed of; skeletons we prefer not to think about, skeletons that haunt us occasionally in the wee hours of the morning when we should be sleeping peacefully.

I have a couple of skeletons that I try to put out of my mind when they come sneaking in; skeletons that bruise my self-esteem while creating self hate every time they show up in the dark recesses of my mind.

This was a difficult decision, but I am going to share one of those skeletons with you.  Why?  Consider it another form of confession.  

I was a single mother when I lost my job in March of 1980.  For those of you who either don't know or don't remember, those were the lean Regan years and the country was deep into a recession.  Unemployment was at an all time high and jobs were extremely hard to come by.  1980 found many a college graduate waiting tables or pumping gas.  

I had been able to establish a meager savings account for emergencies, but certainly nothing that we could depend to live on for any length of time.    

Luckily, I qualified for unemployment.  Not very much, but enough for us to eke by. Thankfully, Regan realized the unemployment problem and offered several extensions.

Needless to say by December 1981 our savings account had long since been exhausted.  The unemployment checks were just paying the rent and utilities with a bit left over for food.  However, it was winter and because of huge heating bills our food was at an all time low.  

I remember my 10 year-old son asking if we could have steak for dinner one evening.  I could make a package of hot dogs or a can of tuna stretch for a good week.  But that was in good times and now we were down to some potatoes and a couple boxes of macaroni and cheese.  Period.  Steve was unaware of the financial problems at the time.  I smiled and ruffled his hair, mumbling something about next week.  

These were desperate times and I was a desperate young mother.

Return To Sender

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am getting tired of opening my mailbox every day and pulling out a stack of credit card offers. Not just one or two, but a stack! It's ridiculous and unwarranted.

Think about this for a minute: We have to pay to have the junk mail recycled or hauled off as garbage. These companies are spending our money for us!

I've tried calling each company and asking them to kindly take me off their mailing lists. Companies have to take you off their mailing list if you request it.

I still get the junk mail. Of course that's because my name, along with yours is sold from one company to another. There is lots of money to be made selling mailing lists. Today you may request to have your name removed from a list, but it can show back up on another tomorrow. It's a vicious cycle.

Imagine the millions of dollars that are spent marketing this stuff. Perhaps I should buy a rubber stamp that says, "RETURN TO SENDER". Maybe if the perpetrators started getting their unwanted solicitations back in return mail they'd stop sending it to begin with and wasting their money - and mine!  But that's doubtful.

Perhaps if the post office had to deliver it back they'd take a closer look and appeal to the government for some kind of direction in the form of a law banning such garbage. That's doubtful too.

The Internet hasn't been around long at all and already there are spam controls filtering out unwanted junk mail. People are even being arrested for sending spam via the Internet! 

The post office has been around for a long, long time.  When are they going to figure out a spam control? But then there is big money to be made on the postage, so that probably isn't going to happen any time too soon either.  

Bordering on Stupid?

The debate is on over whether or not countries that have not sent troops to Iraq should be entitled to share in the $18 billion dollars U.S. taxpayers are putting up to rebuild Iraq. Bush's policy excludes countries such as Russia, France, Canada and Germany.

Bush made this comment at a recent Cabinet meeting regarding the situation: ''What I'm saying is, in the expenditure of the taxpayers' money ... the U.S. people, the taxpayers, understand why it makes sense for countries that risked lives to participate in the contracts in Iraq. It's very simple. Our people risked their lives, friendly coalition folks risked their lives and therefore the contracting is going to reflect that.''

Well, I agree with President Bush. Why would the United States citizens and taxpayers agree to let a bunch of yahoos from countries that did not support the cause share in the windfall the U.S. citizens are going to pay for? They shouldn't! In fact, they should be ashamed of themselves for even asking! My God, the audacity!

Don't misunderstand me though. I'm not even sure that I agree that U.S. citizens should be financing this. But since we are, the contracts should be offered to U.S. companies first and then our allies.

Senator John Kerry, campaigning in his home state of Massachusetts for the Democratic Presidential nomination said: ''I think limiting contracts is an enormous mistake. I think it borders on the stupid.''

Senator Kerry, what in God's name do you think you are celebrating? It sure doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that most U.S. citizens don't want to hand money over to people who wouldn't stand beside us in this situation. I think YOU border on stupid!

This morning I listened to a woman crying her eyes out over a son who was just killed in Iraq. It was heartbreaking. There is no way that I can even imagine what that woman is going through, and I think God that I don't. But I can't get her voice out of my head.

I wonder if she'd agree with President Bush or Senator Kerry?

What do you think?

Bud's Light Show

 

I don't put up outdoor Christmas lights. It seems like too much work for such a short time, and besides I wouldn't know where to begin. But I appreciate those that do.

My neighbors, Sally and Bud put up lights every year. Every year I watch as he drags out all the boxes of lights, and stands in the cold and sometimes even the rain hanging them. It takes him most of the day to finish, but when he's done they stand back and appraise his work while he makes small adjustments until everything is perfect. Every year I stand by and watch, waiting for that moment when he throws the light switch and the house is ablaze in beautiful splendor.

Usually right after Thanksgiving Bud will put his Christmas lights up, but this year Thanksgiving came and went and no lights. I was beginning to think they were going to forego adding their personal touch to the neighborhood. After all, he is getting older and it can't be easy work. It saddened me because I looked forward to those lights. Unknowingly and very subtly over the years they had taken on a special meaning, and I looked forward to Bud's lights. They cheered up an otherwise dreary neighborhood for a few short weeks, and the spirit of Christmas was reborn each year.

But Sunday morning found Bud dragging out the boxes and ladder, and even though it rained most of the day he diligently hung his Christmas lights. And I secretly watched. Waiting for "that" moment that would make me feel like a kid again. As always I was not disappointed! Suddenly the whole neighborhood lit up, and I felt that holiday lighthearted feeling once again!

Last night I took the girls out, and while I waited for them to finish their "business" I stood gazing over at Bud's light show that dazzled before my eyes. What a magnificent sight!  Now it really FELT like Christmas and suddenly it didn't feel so cold and damp outside.

What a wonderful way for Bud and Sally to spread the Christmas cheer through the neighborhood and to keep the spirit of Christmas lit inside of us all!

On the Fritz

Just when you think there is smooth sailing ahead, life throws a little sucker punch and brings you back to reality- quick like.

Last night when leaving work I got in my car and started it up.  While it was warming I plugged my headset into my cell phone.  I needed to call Kim because we'd made tentative plans to do a little shopping that evening.  

Suddenly out of nowhere my car starts sputtering and dies.  I look at the dashboard and sigh impatiently, while turning the key in the ignition again.  The car starts right up.  I remember thinking to myself that my first stop would be Starbucks.  I could really use a cup of joe.  Monday's are always hectic at my job.

No sooner did I realize that thought than the damned car died again.  Oh brother!  Please don't start this tonight, I think to myself.  I turn the key again and give it some gas and the sputtering stops.  I put the car in gear and pull out of the parking lot. 

But all was not well.  The whole trip home my car was sputtering any time I let up off the gas or when I accelerated.  Just get me home!  And that it did. Funny thing about this car.  Regardless of the problem it has always got me home safe and sound.

Well, it goes without saying that all evening I was planning what I was going to do this morning in my mind:  I've got to call the mechanics; run my car in - hopefully with no problem;  call the rental car agency.  I figure I'll only need a car for a day or two.  No problem, I get a good deal through a rental car agency because the company I work for has a contract of sorts with them, and being an employee it's a nice little perk that I have enjoyed for several years.  I still have to pay for it, but at a reduced rate. 

I hope all of you are having a blessed day because regardless of the little hurdles that life throws at me, I will!

 

   

A Day With Sunshine

Saturday morning I awoke to sunshine streaming through my curtains.  It was such a welcomed pleaure that it put an immediate smile on my face.  I made coffee and walked out onto the sun drenched patio and stood basking in its warmth, grateful for the lightheartedness I felt.

It was such a beautiful day!  The girls played outside off and on all day enjoying the warmth of the sun. They sniffed every square inch of the yard while longing to catch a glimpse of a neighborhood squirrel that occasionally tease as they dance across the fence top.  The were disappointed this fine day because the squirrels obviously had their own agendas. 

I walked around in the yard, drinking my coffee and taking notice of the subtle changes that were already taking place; a prelude to spring.  

The Paper Whites that I planted in two big terra cotta planters on my patio are already 10 inches tall.  They are very hardy and love the cool weather.  The Dutch Iris that dot the landscape have sprouted up as well, along with some other little miscellaneous early spring bulbs that are peaking up from the cold ground.  In a few short months they will all be blooming.

The Magnolia tree outside my living room window has finally cast off its old leaves, and is now sporting the huge buds that will one day bloom a beautiful deep pink, and not long after the leaves will give way to the best possible shade tree one could ask for. 

My beautiful pink Dogwood tree is loaded with blooms too, and I look so forward to it blooming this coming spring.  It is my favorite! 

But alas!  The rains have returned this evening and Mother Nature is nurturing and feeding her own.  And while I sit in the wee hours of the morning listening to the soft rain and reciting some of the wonders I witnessed today, I realize two things:  1)  I am blessed beyond belief, and 2) my gutters need to be cleaned! 

It's a wonderful world!

 

The Girls and Doctor Burton

I took Friday off work so I could take the girls to see Doc Burton.  Just routine stuff, but I wanted to get it taken care of before year end.  Our appointment was scheduled for 12:45pm.

After breakfast and my morning cofee, I gave the girls a bath. I wanted them to look spiffy for the fine Doctor.  Around 12:30pm I loaded them up for the drive in to town.  Katie must have sensed something was up because she started fretting nervously, and by the time we arrived she had Sophie worked up a bit too.

I took Katie in first since she was already in a dither, and once she had her yearly physical, nail trimming and booster shots, it was Sophie's turn.  I peaked out Doc Burton's office window before I went out to the parking lot to fetch Sophie, and there she was with her head thrown back and howling like a little wolf!  She was so upset that her sister was out of her sight.  To make a long story short they were tickled to death to get back out to the car and on the way home. 

The good Doctor said that they are in excellent condition and was very impressed with their coats.  Apparently many Westies have skin trouble which make for poor coats.  He said that a lot of them have patches of missing hair and scabs!  Poor babies!  My girls look great though, but I only shampoo them with Johnson's Lavender Baby Shampoo.  It's mild and doesn't bother their skin.

Once home they lunched on roasted chicken breast and then climbed up on their respective blankets for a nap.  

They live a dog's life for sure!

A Random Act of Kindness

It seems that I no sooner am appalled when I read in the newspaper about some heinous act one individual has perpetrated against another, and suddenly my faith is restored in society when I witness someone bestowing a random act of kindness toward another.

Case in point: A month ago Jerry, a neighbor of mine came by and asked if he could pick some of my grapes. As you may have read in earlier journal entries, I have an arbor and this year the grapes were especially abundant. I was thrilled for him to take some of the grapes off my hands because I hate to see them go to waste.

Jerry and I have only talked on a few occasions, but through the course of our conversations I have learned that he is a Master Gardener. Since I love to garden, whenever we talk I have tried to glean as much information from him as I can in regards to my own yard. He is very informative and appreciates the hard work I put into my yard and gardens.

My grape arbor and a few dwarf sized fruit trees are located on a rectangular shaped piece of property that is fenced in, but was lacking a gate. It was on my "things to do" list, but I had just never got around to installing one. I had a make shift gate propped up to keep stray dogs out. Jerry's property butts up against this rectangular portion of my property.

While he was back there picking grapes he noticed my 'gate' or lack thereof, and said that he thought he had a gate laying around that would fit that spot. Nothing much more was said about it and he eventually thanked me for the grapes and left.

The next day Jerry was back with the gate, poles and cement. I was so surprised, but secretly thrilled at the same time. I had wrestled with that make shift gate for so long, and it was such a hassle every time I wanted access to that piece of my property. Jerry was right, the gate did fit perfectly, and it hardly took him any time at all to get it up either. Before he left he cautioned me about not using it until the cement had dried, and told me to let him know if I needed help with anything else. How often does that happen in today's world?

Now I go out almost daily to admire my new gate! It almost feels like Christmas - do you know what I mean? I doubt he realizes what a wonderful gesture that was. What a nice man and good neighbor to take time out of his day to help me.

My faith is restored in mankind once again.

In The Name of Justice

A local retired Superior Court judge who was cited this summer for driving under the influence of alcohol pleaded guilty Monday to the reduced charge of negligent operation of a vehicle.

Retired Judge Lodge, 67, served for 20 years on the bench and was known as being sharp, plainspoken and impatient. Not the kind of judge you'd want to go up against if charged with drunk driving.

Lodge was given a suspended 90-day sentence and ordered to pay $796 in fines and fees, and will be on probation for two years.

Lodge was pulled over after a police officer noticed the 1980 truck he was driving  cross the centerline.  Lodge's blood alcohol level was not measured because he declined a breath test.

His defense was, of course that he had not been drinking, and the poor driving was caused by his unreliable vehicle, not drunkenness. His attorney also cited that Lodge had been working in his yard all day and suffered from allergies and his daughter-in-law's cat, hence the red, bloodshot, watery eyes. His attorney also mentioned he had taken a cold-flu medication that was 10 percent alcohol.

Additionally the vehicle he was driving was deemed not road worthy, which was documented by a local auto shop earlier in the year.  Crossing a center line is pretty serious.  Just this past weekend another local accident occurred just the same way killing 3 people!  Of course alcohol was deemed a contributing factor in that one.   

Lodge's attorney went on to say that since Lodge had served his community for 20 years he should not be forced to sit out the mandatory 1 day in jail.

Why? The local garbage man who has served his community for 20 years wouldn't get such a break, and neither would the volunteer fireman. Who says that they haven't contributed just as much to this community as the Judge? 

Washington State law dictates that the penalty for declining the breath test (and we'll give him the benefit of the doubt here), with no prior DUI'S is an automatic 48 hours in jail, fine of $500 to $5,000, and revocation of driver's license for 1 year.

The only penalty that Mr. Lodge received was the $796 fine, per the local newspaper.

Makes one wonder now, doesn't it? If it doesn't it should. The Judge is one of my uncle's close, personal friends.

Sausage and White Bean Soup

Fall is the best time of year for good soup.  The weather is cool and brisk, and a hot steaming bowl of soup just hits the spot!  I don't usually try recipes that are featured in the newspaper, but I gleaned this one recently from a local newspaper and it is without a doubt one of the best I have ever tasted.  I hope you try it and agree!

Sausage and White Bean Soup

2 Tbs. pure olive oil

1  1/2 lbs. sweet or hot Italian sausage, in the casing

2 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto ham, minced

2 medium onions, in medium dice

2 medium carrots, peeled and in medium dice

2 medium celery stalks, in medium dice

1 tsp. dried thyme leaves

3  15.8-ounce cans navy beans, undrained

1 quart chicken broth  (carton or can)

Heat oil in a large, deep saute pan or soup kettle over medium-high heat.  When pan is hot, add sausages; cook turning once or twice, until well browned on all sides, about 5 minutes.  (sausage will not be fully cooked at this point)

Remove from pan.  When cool enough to handle, cut into clices 1/4 inch thick.  Add prosciutto, onions, carrots, celery and thyme to the empty skillet; cook, stirring often, until well browned, 8 to 10 minutes.  In a small bowl, mash one can of beans with a fork into a chunk puree.  Add broth, whole and mashed beans, and sausage; cover and bring to a simmer, partially covered, to blend flavors, 20minutes.  Let rest 10 minutes; serve. 

This soup is fast to prepare and is absolutely delicious served with crusty bread. 

Let me know if you like it!

Trouble In Neverland

Did you know that Michael Jackson was listed in 2000 in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world record holder for ''most charities supported by a pop star''?

Now, as the singer faces new allegations of child molestation, charities, schools and even cities that benefited or hoped to benefit from his largesse are reconsidering their affiliation with the ''King of Pop.''

I have a problem with ANY charity taking a stand like this. Who died and left them God? Who are they to decide that a donation should be accepted or not? That money is going to help people in need who probably could care less about Michael Jackson. In many cases these are people who need the very basics in life to survive and if Michael Jackson is good hearted enough to contribute then everyone should keep their opinions to themselves and take the money to better the lives of those it is intended for.

Look, I don't know if the guy is guilty of child molestation or not. And to be honest with you, when there is a lot of money up for grabs I believe some people would say or do anything to get their hands on some of it, including prostitute their own children. But if Michael Jackson is guilty it seems to me that the parent(s) of this child is too. Who would let their child go off somewhere with a man they really don't know, and especially when 10 years previously it was alleged that he molested another boy?

I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to figure this one out.

Regardless of the situation, charities should refrain from making any moral judgements. That's not what they get paid to do.

Thanksgiving Week - Friday

Friday and the day after Thanksgiving and the biggest shopping day of the year! I actually contemplated getting up at the crack of dawn and heading out like I have in the past, but then realized that most of my shopping is done. So what's the point? In years past the day after Thanksgiving was the first day of shopping for my friends and I.

I used to have to depend on a Holiday Club to fund Christmas. I'd save all year so I'd have the money to buy Christmas presents. The day after Thanksgiving was THE shopping day!

My friends and I would meet at a designated "starting" place; make tentative plans for lunch and off we'd go spending the entire day shopping. Sometimes we'd start at one Mall and then move to the next and so on. Fighting the crowds and traffic was stressful but it all just went with the territory!

It truly was more than just a shopping day though. Like men get together for whatever common bonds they share when hunting, we got together with our common bonds and shopped!

Age does bring some perks. Now we all make a much more comfortable living and buy whenever we want. Since I don't have to depend on the Holiday Club anymore I can get my shopping done early. Which is nice and convenient - right?

Something in me misses the old days though. Perhaps I appreciated it more when I had to scrimp and save the money for that one big day. The build up of anticipation and planning that went into it. Meeting in the mornings for coffee and then again at lunch, the shared gift ideas.  It was all so much fun!

Common bonds shared among a small group of friends for so many years that seem now broken.

Thanksgiving Day 2003

My family and I had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration today.  Everyone gathered at Steve and Danelle's house, and what a feast was had!

I took a few pictures of Madison this evening. 

It's been a long day so I'm signing off for now.

Thanksgiving Week.....Wednesday Morning

I'm up at 6:30am!  I wish I could sleep in, but just can't.  I have a couple of things that are on my mind to do - nothing terribly important though. 

I let the girls out and made coffee, all the while I am making my morning plans.  I'll jump in the shower as soon as I finish my coffee, then stop by the grocery store and buy a few things.  While I'm out I have to stop by Hallmark and pick up Madison's First Thanksgiving card.  I meant to do that over the weekend and mail it to her, but didn't get around to it.  Oh well, I will just have to hand deliver it this year.  Next year it'll be more of a must to mail.  Then I need to stop for wood pellets and rush back home.  I've offered to watch Madison for a while today so Danelle can get started on Thanksgiving preparations.  The festivities will be held at their house this year and I am thrilled that I don't have to cook!  Actually, this will be the 2nd year that I have not had to cook because they wanted to last year too. 

I stopped by Steve and Danelle's (their pics are above-taken at a local eatery) house last Saturday evening after receiving a phone call demanding my appearance immediately.  They had just purchased new furniture for their formal living room and wanted me to see it.  (It is just gorgegous, by the way) 

At some point we were sitting around and talking when Steve reflected on what all had happened in our lives since last year:  My Mom passed away, we found out Danelle was pregnant, Steve and Danelle had Thanksgiving in their cramped little 1 bedroom apartment, they had a new house built, Steve got a new job, Danelle quit her job, I got a new position with the same company, but most importantly Madison was born!  We were all a little quiet and misty eyed recounting Mom's passing and Madison's birth, but all agreed that we have been blessed in so many ways and we have so much more to be thankful for this Thanksgiving than last. 

I just wish that my Mom could see Madison.  She would fall in love all over again.

Later...................

Thanksgiving Week........Tuesday Evening

Today was a relaxing sort of day.  The weather was fairly nice with a sprinkling of intermittent rain and a dappling of welcomed sunlight throughout the day.  

The only thing I had planned was a haircut and eyebrow waxing at 2:30pm.  The rest of the day was mine, which I quickly filled with house cleaning in the morning and watching some daytime TV.  Jerry Springer never fails to amaze me where or how he digs up the dredges of society, and all in the bad taste of entertainment!  What kind of person could sit and watch that show day in and day out without becoming severely depressed is beyond me. 

After my haircut I did some Christmas shopping - I am nearly done!  :)  Then came home, fed the girls, and fixed myself a Weight Watchers TV dinner - I'm being good until Thursday-ha!

Now I am going to curl up on the couch with the girls flanking me on each side, and a read until bedtime.  I got sidetracked after reading "LITTLE ALTARS EVERYWHERE" by Rebecca Wells, and am just now about midway in her 2nd book, "The Devine Secrets of the YA-YA Sisterhood".  I still maintain that these are two of the best books I have ever read!

Well Gang, sleep tight and don't let the bedbugs bite!  

See ya'll tomorrow! 

Monday Evening belongs to an ELF and two Westies....

Jeri, Janae and I went to the movies to see ELF this evening.  I'd rate it 3 stars out of a possible 5.  It's cute and a bit silly.  A good family flick.  There were a couple of good laughs throughout the whole movie, but nothing too funny.  In that respect it was a bit disappointing. 

Since I neglected the girls for a few hours this evening, they are schooling at my feet as I write this for some attention. 

Until tomorrow.......................   

Thanksgiving Week - Monday

This Thanksgiving week is already proving to be a wonderful week. Not only am I on vacation all week, but I was just informed that my journal is being considered for The Editor's Picks list! I am so extremely flattered! What a wonderful experience for me!

There are many things that I have to be thankful for, and I have been reflecting on some of them today.

I am thankful for living in the greatest country on earth. One that allows me the freedom to write my thoughts in a journal for all the world to see, regardless of my political views, and where I will not reap any repercussion in doing so.

I am thankful to have a loving and caring family, whose good health is evident.

I am thankful for having a good paying job that I enjoy going to every day.

I am thankful for the friends in my life, and thankful I am able to share my life with each of them.

I am thankful for little things like owning a microwave oven to heat a TV dinner, to more awe inspiring things like being able to practice the religion of my choice.

On a more personal note, I am thankful to be sharing this Thanksgiving with my one and only grandchild, Madison with whom the sun rises and sets on in my world.

Life is good and I am thankful!

 

Remembering Timi Yuro

Growing up in the 1950's and 1960's was a magical time for me. Those of you who are in your 50's & 60's can probably relate. Life was so different from today. It was so innocent and pure.

One focal point that set the tone was the music. I grew up listening to a variety of music, but my all time favorite was Rock & Roll. There have been all kinds of rock & roll: hard rock, soft rock, bubble gum rock, punk rock and the list goes on and on. But the first rock & roll was Doo-Wop of the 1950's and early 1960's. Sweet and natural, with no reference to violence or dirty words.

One of Doo-Wop's greatest singers was Timi Yuro. Timi's hits "Hurt" released in 1961 and "What's the matter baby (is it hurting you)?" (my personal favorite) were sung with such deep, raw emotion that listening to them now at my age I wonder how this 20 year old young woman had the life experience under her belt to deliver such a performance every time she sang.

I was 10 years old when I first heard "HURT" on my cousin's radio. I can remember that day as if it were just yesterday.  Timi's voice had me riveted to the spot in front of the radio in the dining room. I've been a fan ever since.

Timi appeared on American Bandstand and Ed Sullivan in 1962 & 1963.

Mike Jameson wrote this rave review about Timi and her music. In his review he speculates what happened to her after all these years. And frankly, I wondered the same thing so I started surfing the Internet and found a page, which outlines Timi's career and health situation of the last few years. I decided to write the author of that article Tom Simon, who graciously responded. He suggested that I send a card and/or letter to Timi's agent who will make sure that it finds its way to her.

So last night I sat down and wrote to Ms. Timi Yuro. It's almost a surreal experience to think that she will actually read the letter I wrote! I pray that it brings her happiness and above all finds her recovering completely.

Please feel free to drop a card or letter to her too! Tom says she will appreciate hearing from us all. Her address is:

Timi Yuro, c/o SOUND 2000, Post Office Box 54802, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74155

AWOL MOM

I read an interesting article in The O'Reilly Factor this morning about an AWOL military mom who refuses to return to the Iraqi desert and leave her 7 children stranded in Colorado.

As the article reads the woman, Specialist Simone Holcomb and her husband are both in the military and both have served in Iraq already, and her husband is still there. Simone's mother-in-law was taking care of the children, but had to return home in another state to care for her ailing husband. Ms. Holcomb has asked to be relieved of duty in Iraq and be stationed near her home but the military has refused. She also asked for compassionate discharge and was declined that plea.

What was the military thinking, to begin with, by accepting a husband and wife who are the parents of 7 children? For God's sake I am not a scholar but common sense dictates to me that the children are a priority over a damned stint in the Army, in some hole in the wall place like Iraq! If the parents didn't have the foresight, Army should have. It's not like this is a new institution and this sort of thing hasn't come up many times before.

I say give mom a compassionate discharge and send her home "to be the best she can be", and care for the people who need her help the most - her kids.

A Mother's Love

Yesterday would have been my Mother's 84th birthday. I often said that if there had been an Oscar Award for Moms, she would have won hands down.

When I was a youngster I thought everyone had a Mother like mine. Loving, warm, kind and a woman who would protect her young no differently than a mother bear protects its cubs. It wasn't until I was much older that I realized that everyone did not have a Mother like mine.

I remember planning to spend a Friday night with my girlfriend Colette, during my freshman year of high school. She was an only child and her parents owned a ritzy home not far from where I lived. I was extremely impressed and a bit envious. My folks certainly didn't have a new, up-to-date house like that.

Colette's Mother had agreed to fix waffles with strawberries and whipped cream for dinner, something I was not used to eating. My parents were steak, potatoes and salad people. Nothing as frivolous as strawberry waffles and whipping cream was ever served as "dinner" at our house, or breakfast for that matter. Suddenly these people seemed so much more "up town" than my folks did.

I can't remember exactly how it all started, but there was a confrontation between Colette and her father - a really big one. He started screaming at her and everything escalated so quickly that I'm not sure what all happened. But I do remember her father grabbing a belt and chasing her through that beautiful house and beating her with the belt buckle until her mouth and face was bleeding. This wasn't just a spanking. This was an all out assault that I was witnessing and I was horrified!

All the while her Mother stood by saying nothing. In fact, it was evident to me that this type of behavior went on quite often by her Mothers nonchalant attitude.

I was so afraid that I called my Mom who sent my Dad to pick me up immediately. I was never so thankful to be back at home, safe and sound.

What stands out most when I remember that incident was Colette's Mother and her lack of concern for her daughter. I believe that Colette's Dad could have beaten her to death and her Mother wouldn't have said a word.

On the other hand my Mother did protect me. I was never allowed to go back to that ritzy new home, and I have never liked waffles with strawberries and whipped cream since then.

IN THEIR HONOR

I have never understood why Veteran's Day is celebrated the way that it is. There is no reason for schools to be closed down, after all none of the kids are Vets. And certainly it is ridiculous for government offices to be closed. Very few of them ever saw boot camp.

Even as a kid I saw the hypocrisy of this.  Am I the only one that feels this way?

My son, Steve served in the military during the Desert Storm War.  Like the thousands that went before and since, he has never had the day off in his honor for serving his country.  Somehow that just doesn't seem right. 

The people that deserve to have the day off with pay are the Veterans themselves. It should be a law. If you are a Veteran, regardless if you work in the private sector or not, you should have the day off with pay. I'd be happy to have my tax dollars support it. Those are the men and women that sacrificed for the rest of us, many with their very lives.

The Veterans are the men and women that deserve the day off in their honor for serving the best country in the world.

After pouring billions of dollars into rebuilding other countries, it's the very least WE could do for our own.

Unsettling Comments

Unsettling

I do my duty at the polls every election, but I have never been too keen on politics. However this article in MSNBC has me thinking.

Billionaire, George Soros, is giving away money like we give out Halloween candy. His mission: to unseat George Bush. Well, it's his money and I guess he can waste it any way he wants. But what is unsettling to me is the last paragraph in the article that reads like this:

Asked whether he would trade his $7 billion fortune to unseat Bush, Soros opened his mouth. Then he closed it. The proposal hung in the air: Would he become poor to beat Bush?
He said: "If someone guaranteed it."

That sounds like a serious threat against the President of the United States. $7 billion to "unseat" Bush? This guy sounds like a nut!

Choices

 

I just read an article regarding obesity and whether or not it should be validated as a disease. The Internal Revenue Service ruled last year that, for tax purposes, obesity is a disease. If the medical profession goes along with that assessment millions of people with be able to get help through their health insurance companies for both medical and drug treatment.

I think it's time to take a step back from that SUPER SIZED BIG MAC AND FRIES, and take a look at our society.

When I was a kid the only fat person I knew of was Jackie Gleason. I remember sitting in front of the TV, watching the HONEY MOONERS and being astounded by his size. It was truly an oddity and rare finding. So what has changed in the last 50 years to cause Americans to bulk up?

Literally everywhere you turn in today's society there is a smiling face handing out food.

On your way into work count how many fast food joints you pass. If you take the freeway count the food signs preceding your exit. Surprising isn't it?

The Mall where you and your kids shop undoubtedly has a food court with 9 or 10 different restaurants, and throughout the Mall there are specialty shops selling pretzels, coffee, cookies, ice cream, candy...you get the idea.  

While watching TV the endless stream of commercials selling food is inescapable. Newspapers and magazines are loaded with ads and coupons: buy one dinner at the regular price and get the second for half price, $3 off regularly prices meals, buy a large pizza for the medium price, and the list goes on and on.

My point is, you just don't have to go very far to run into someone, somewhere trying to shove something to eat down your throat or conning you into "super sizing" that fast food meal. Even the espresso coffee chains had to jump onto the bandwagon and move from the 'Grande' size to the 'Venti' or 'Enorme' sizes. Big is better, right?

Is obesity really a disease? Perhaps in rare cases, but I suggest that instead it is because we overindulge ourselves to the point it is killing us.  If you think your health insurance premiums are high now, wait until obesity is declared a disease.

THE END OF A GOOD THING?

I just got through watching the Barbara Walters interview with Martha Stewart, who has been charged with obstructing justice, making false statements and securities fraud in conjunction with her investments in the biotech firm ImClone Systems Inc.

Whether or not she is guilty only she knows, and I suppose time will tell.

But I like Martha Stewart and I like what she stands for.  I guess I kind of idolize her, but if truth were told what American woman doesn't? She has been extremely successful in her career which has ranged from being an astute student, beautiful model, successful Wall Street Trader, married a Harvard law student, had a 27 year marriage and then launched an unprecedented corporate career where she became a self made billionaire. It can't get much better than that.

Barbara Walters asked Ms. Stewart point blank why she thinks people hate her.  Martha, in short, felt it was human nature.  In part I think she is right.  But what is it about successful people that we both idolize and despise?  

I think the root of the problem is that people are either jealous or intimidated by wealthy and powerful people.  As simplistic as that may sound I know from experience that women can be very jealous, and men intimidated by a woman in control.  Especially a wealthy one. 

I believe they see Martha Stewart as a woman who is strong and successful. A woman who admittedly strives for perfection in everything she does. A woman who was the CEO of her own company. Someone who was focused and knew what she wanted and expected people around her to do the same.

My Mom always said. "Where there is smoke there is fire."  I hope that isn't the case here.  I hope Martha Stewart is telling the truth and she is absolved from all charges, and I hope that she and her family survive this fiasco.  

Unfortunately for Martha, this is not a good thing. 

 

 

What A Deal!

Are you a small business owner and planning to buy a new car? Check out this article I found on MSNBC.  It appears a select few (which include doctors and lawyers-go figure!) are afforded the benefit of a write-off up to $100,000 on a new vehicle, provided the vehicle is used in their business. What a deal! Apparently the law was originally written to enable small businesses an opportunity to buy 'equipment' and reap a tax break. Of course some yahoo somewhere had to push the envelope and now everybody and their dog is jumping on board. Understandably car manufacturers and dealerships are advertising this to boost their sales.

But buyer beware!  Personal auto insurance contracts EXCLUDE coverage on business vehicles. 

Give Me A Break!

This story about illegal immigrants coming to the U.S. to make more than 10 times the wage they made in their country, and then complaining about the long hours and brutal conditions they were forced to work under has me rolling on the floor!

Why WalMart is being targeted is beyond me. It sounds like it's the greed factor. WalMart is the big fish and somebody, someplace thinks they are entitled to some and want to cash in.

There has to be a lawyer (or group thereof) behind this............

Perhaps the illegals have forgotten where they came from. I know the poverty they have had to live in and the long hours of work they have to endure in their own countries. Countries that do not offer breaks, workman's comp, health benefits and no laws governing how long an employer can work an employee. Countries where there is no minimum wage law, and safety/health organizations to oversee safe working conditions. That's not to mention the various organizations that will help feed and clothe their families for free like the Salvation Army and Goodwill, to name only two. Last I heard they don't care if you have a green card or not.

I normally don't get too worked up over things like this, but I am sick of hearing people complaining when they don't have a leg to stand on.  They are in this country illegally, for God's sake!  We should be complaining that they broke our laws by entering illegally!  This reminds me of the burglar who breaks his leg while robbing someone's home and then turns around and sues the homeowner.  Kind of ironic, huh? 

How would any of us be treated if we entered their countries illegally?  I think we all know the answer to that.  

Perhaps those that finds it distasteful working and living here under conditions that are unsatisfactory should just leave. They came on their own free will (illegally) and certainly they may leave that way too.  It is a free county, afterall.  

Heels and Soles

Yesterday morning I was getting dressed for work and noticed that my penny loafers are on their last leg, no pun intended. That means that sooner than later I will have to go shopping for another pair, and I hate shopping for shoes. I am not hard on shoes so they last forever, I'm talking years here, which is probably the reason I hate shopping for them.

I have friends who own, at any given time, more shoes than I have had in my entire lifetime. I just don't understand the sense in owning so many pair of shoes. I mean, you can only wear one pair at a time. It seems like a waste of money to me.

In my opinion a person only needs about 5 pair of shoes at any given time: a pair of loafers to wear with slacks; a pair of heels for suits and dresses; tennis shoes for whatever, a pair of sandals for summer, and last but most important a good pair of house slippers.

To be fair I must admit that I have a lot more than 5 pair of shoes. I bought them over the years and for one reason or another they didn't fall into my favorite category, so was discarded to the back of the closet where they remain today. Some are brand new and never worn - still in the box! What sense is there in that? I am a hypocrite in my own philosophy, for God's sake!

I guess it's always easier to give advice than take it - even if it is your own.

A Labor of Love For Madison

Sunday I made grape juice for Madison.  I have a huge grape arbor that host both concord and seedless green grapes.  The mixture of grapes is heavenly for juice and jelly, but since I work full time and have to keep a house and yard up, I just don't have the time to cook it up and put it in pretty little ribboned jars.  Martha Stewart I'm not!  Besides, she has a staff of hundreds (if not thousands) to help her get all of her cutsey suggestions and tips done.  Not to mention the help she has with her house and yard work.  Right?  But we all know that regardless of her busy schedule, Martha would find the time somehow.

I have picked and given away baskets upon baskets of grapes this year, but the arbor is still laden heavily with loads more.  The folks that were the recipients of the grapes were thrilled to have them.  They were making jelly and juice after work for themselves and their,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, grandchildren! 

 That was the wrong thing for me to hear because I have a granddaughter now too, and   she'd probably love some grape juice, I thought guiltily. How selfish am I?  What kind of grandma would turn down making juice for her little granddaughter?  A bad Grandma, that's who! 

In the last week the weather has changed from near 80 degree days to freezing literally overnight.  Our first light frost was last Thursday evening and we have had one in every night since.  But I was on a mission and therefore would not be thwarted!  So, Sunday  morning found me hiking out to my grape arbor in near freezing temperatures where I picked a  basket full of mostly concord grapes (as the green seedless are nearly gone now).  I trucked them into the house where I cleaned and washed each grape with love.  To make a long and boring story short, that basket of grapes made more than 2 gallons of wonderful, sweet juice for Maddie!  Hey, Welch's doesn't have anything on me!  What a good grandmother!

Perhaps I'll make more juice if the grapes are patient and continue to hold onto the vines, but then again I am going to be pretty busy this week.  If I can just find the time......................

Memories

Kim and I met with a real estate agent today to discuss a dreaded subject: selling our mom's house.

Selling the homestead is a difficult decision and one we have put off making for a year now. Eddy, Kim and I grew up in that house. I was 5 years old when my folks bought the Cape Cod style home in 1956, and for nearly 50 years it has been in our family.

My mother could never part with it. Even when she became older and we'd suggest that she sale it and buy something a bit smaller, she'd get misty-eyed and say that there were just too many memories there to leave. So she stayed there until she died.

There are many happy memories and fun times associated with it. I remember my mom in shorts and a tank top tending to her flower beds and vegetable garden; us kids playing hide and go seek at twilight with neighbor kids; riding my bike as fast as I could down our street listening to the sound of the cards that I'd clothes pinned onto the spokes click out their own rhythm; Eddy's tadpole "farm" in a big galvanized tub which he sat in the backyard one summer; my cousin and I dancing to Little Eva's hit "Locomotion"; lying in the cool grass on a hot summer's day eating concord grapes, apples, pears and plums grown in our yard; playing in the swimming pool; running through the sprinklers while dad watered the lawn; placing our footprints in the cold wet cement of the new patio dad built (which are still there today); choosing up teams and playing baseball, and last but not least all the holidays and birthdays that were celebrated there. These are just a few of the wonderful memories I have associated with that home.

The home comes with enough property that if split up could provide two additional lots besides the one the house sits on. It could turn out to be a tidy little profit for my siblings and myself, but it seems somehow sacrilegious to do that. It's a decision that we'll have to think about and talk through with Eddy.

I would much prefer that another nice family move in and have the opportunity to make their own memories there as we did.

There isn't enough money to buy the ones we share.

A Fool And His Money Are Soon Parted

My neighbors, Brian and Karen, are going to lose their house.  It is going to be auctioned off if they don't come up with $25,000 to pay up their mortgage by the end of the week. 

Brian and Karen are good neighbors.  They keep their yard up and plant a big garden each year that they share with everyone.  If you need help with anything Brian's right there johnny on the spot to offer whatever assistance he can.

The beginning of the end started when he quit his job a couple of years ago over a dispute with his boss at a major telecomminications company.  He worked for a year or so as a truck driver and made ends meet quite nicely, but quit because he, "just wasn't going to be gone for 5 days and come home and do yard work all weekend, and get up and start over again the following week." I think he quit because he couldn't obviously drink like he wanted while on the road.

Then there was the time he got into trouble with the law over some domestic violence issue.  He was drinking, of course, and answered the door with a gun in his hand.  The sheriff's deputies decided to shoot first and ask questions later.  Brian was lucky that they had a bean bag pellet gun, otherwise he may have bought his self another piece of property in a cemetary.  

He did odd jobs from then on out but nothing permanent, and nothing that paid enough to keep up with his bills and the mortgage.  Karen was able to keep a job even if it was temporary.

Finally he started filing chapter 13's, "to keep the mortgage company from foreclosing and stall for time."  I felt so bad for them.  I told him of every place I knew that was hiring.But he had an excuse for every suggestion.  I heard them all.  

Well, two years and whole lot of beers later he is at the end of the chapter 13 rope - so to speak.  He has until the end of the month or he's out.  Karen saw the handwriting on the wall and moved a few weeks ago.  She's renting a small place for herself and all her furniture - the house is now void of furniture.

But Brian is still there.  Drinking his beer.  In his vacant house.  At least until the end of the week.

Madison's First Pumpkin

I dropped Maddie's pumpkin off at my son's house this evening after work.  After visiting for a few minutes I made my exit, glad to be heading home for the evening.

On my drive home, memories of halloweens past came flooding in and brought a smile to my face.  The years that Eddy, Kim and I dressed up as our favorite characters, hurriedly eating our dinner so we could hit the streets and stockpile as much candy as we could before the curfew that mom had given us.  Sometimes we'd run from house to house - walking was a waste of time!  We'd call out to friends when we hit a good house - big candy bars or popcorm balls.  "Go to Mrs. Green's - she's giving out Hershey candy bars", or "Mrs. Robertson has popcorn balls", or "Mr. Compton is giving out apples again - ugh!" 

We head back home with our bags, change into pajamas and finally dump our respective mother lodes out onto the living room floor so mom could go through it.  When everything had passed her inspection, we'd separate our own respective piles into groups: candy bars, suckers, bubble gum, fruit and the most coveted of all popcorm balls!  Then we'd start trading, and you'd think you were on Wall Street to hear us! 

Before long mom would confiscate each of our bags and shoo us off to bed.  Mom never let us just sit and eat whatever we wanted.  Oh no!  She paid the dentist good money and would not have us rot our teeth out of our heads.  So she'd dibby it out to each of us each evening after dinner.  We could have 1 or 2 pieces and of course she took her share too - a kind of "finders fee" if you will.  (She kept it hid so only she knew where to find it) ha!  That candy would last all fall and winter.  What fun it was.

I hope Maddie has as much fun in her childhood at halloween as we did. 

This and That

Another weekend is over and I still didn't get everything done. There just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day.

My fall clean up is underway. Lawns mowed, edged and fall fertilizer is down. Some pruning done but still plenty left to do. I sure wish I could wake up some morning and find that some thief had come in the middle of the night and stole all the work I have left! Wouldn't that be great? I mean where are their values? Ha!

Our weather, in the Pacific Northwest, has been unseasonably warm. It was around 80 degrees yesterday and truly a beautiful day. It gets cool at night though.  I love this time of year!

The girls played outside all day yesterday, and got their weekly bath in the afternoon.  They just look gorgeous. I will never have any other breed of dog as long as I live. Westies are kind, loyal and friendly dogs. They are easy to train and have an enthusiastic spirit. Great dogs for kids.

I made time in my busy day yesterday to go and visit with Madison. She is growing so fast! She has cut two teeth and loves to show them off with her infectious smile. Every time I look at here I still can't believe she is MY granddaughter. I am truly blessed!

My grape arbor is loaded with concord grapes! I have so many I have no idea what to do with them all. I keep giving them away to friends, family and neighbors but I swear they seem to multiply overnight. They make the best juice you ever tasted. I've made it before but I really don't have the time this year.  Next year I will need to take the time so Madison has some homemade grape juice.

I grew a few pumpkins this year, mainly for Maddie. She is still too young to understand Halloween, but I want to get the tradition started so that in years to come she will look forward to coming to grammy's pumpkin patch for her very own pumpkin.

Well, that's it for now. Wishing you all a wonderful and safe week ahead!

DEVINE SECRETS OF THE YA-YA SISTERHOOD

I love to read. I think reading is one of the greatest joys in life. I don't understand people who don't read. What a world of new experiences, characters and knowledge they are missing out on! I hear people say so often that they'll just go see the movie, but the movie is never, ever as good as the book.

Right now I am reading "LITTLE ALTARS EVERYWHERE" by Rebecca Wells. This is the first of a two-book set about the "DEVINE SECRETS OF THE YA-YA SISTERHOOD". The story is based in Louisiana in the early 1960's, and introduces the reader to the Walker family, namely Miss Siddalee Walker, her mama & daddy, her siblings, and of course her mama's gang of girlfriends known as the Ya-Yas.

"LITTLE ALTARS EVERYWHERE" starts out with Siddalee telling equally poignant and humorous stories about the adventures and misadventures of the Walker clan and the Ya-Yas from a child's point of view. Every family member has his and her chance to give their perspective of the happenings.  It is truly timeless!

Siddalee, and the rest of the clan, move into THE 1990's and adulthood in the "DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA-YA SISTERHOOD" and continues the story telling journey. I have laughed and cried while becoming totally captivated with this group of characters.  The nick names, funny little sayings (that only come from the south), the laughing, the crying, the trials and tribulations of life from the southern perspective is quite different from any other region in this country. And what a welcomed and cherished difference it is!

Rebecca Wells has received rave reviews for both of these books, and the "DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA-YA SISTERHOOD" was made into a movie which is now playing on cable channels. In my opinion the movie is very good and definitley worth the investment of your time some afternoon.

But the book(s) is even better!

With all that said, if you get a chance and are so inclined, curl up on the couch with one of these books on a cold winter's day. I think you will be pleasantly surprised, as I have been, to meet these charming characters and live the 'YA-YA' experience, if not but for a few hours!

TGIF...........

Thank God It's Friday!  I got through another of Steve's birthdays without a hitch.  It used to be much more stressful worrying about what I should buy - always wanting to provide the perfect gift.  I don't even know if that's possible.  But now that he is older I buy some Eddy Bauer clothes and give him some money in a card.  I have it down pat. 

I don't even have to wrap anything because I found these neat little items called "Stretch Gift Trim" for $2 at Hallmark that is already decorated and adorned with cute little things like wooden stars.  You just stretch it around your box and to heck with wrap!  It's easy, looks nice and is really perfect for guys.  Perhaps for the ladies in my life I may go the extra mile and use some pretty gift wrap - oh!  I hate wrapping gifts!

I invited Steve and Danelle out to dinner, but since we get off work at 6pm and by the time we commute home to pick up the rest of the family, change our clothes and make it a restaurant it would be at best 7:30.  So Danelle decided to fix a birthday dinner which turned out very good!  She also made a fantastic German chocolate cake (Steve's fav).  It was 4 layers - yeah, count them, four layers high!  The whole thing was homemade.  She had chocolate frosting in between the layers (homemade butter frosting-yum!) and around the outside which she then rolled in sliced almonds.  She'd slathered the top with delicious pecan/coconut/butter frosting and latticed it with thin stipes of chocolate frosting, adorning the top with a marchino cherry.  It was absolutely beautiful and tasted every bit as good too!

Hmmmm, thought to self:  I may have to use Madison as an excuse to drop by and have another piece........

Well, ta-ta for now and have a wonderful day and weekend! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.......

Today is Stephen's birthday!  He is 34 years old today!  He was born on Thursday October 16, 1969 at 9:27pm.  He weighed 8lbs 14 ozs and was 21 inches long.  Mothers can always recite this kind of stuff that mean really nothing to anyone except themselves.  It's a kind of bragging right we have as Mothers.  It has always reminded me of guys that brag about how big the fish was they caught.

Birthdays at my house always come with a load of gifts and of course the perverbial birthday cake.  I always try to make it another HALLMARK moment, but for various reasons it usually doesn't turn out that way.  Either the gifts aren't quite right, size and or color is off, the cake falls, the giftwrap looks like it was used before, an unsuspecting guest steps in something outside and tracks it in (you know what I am talking about), the girls in all the excitement greeting people shreds someone's nylons....oh good Lord, it could be a host of things that would keep one of my birthday parties off of the HALLMARK'S GREATEST MOMENTS list.

But after the last gift is opened, the last bite of cake is gone, the last joke is told, the mess is cleaned up, the guests leave and the lights are turned out, I figure we've had a great time together and so does everyone else. 

We are already planning our next get together!

The Anniversary

One year ago today my blessed Mom passed away. I called Mom from work that morning around 9:00am to say hello and ask how she felt.  She had been hospitalized a month before with bleeding ulcers and spent a week in the hospital, but had not been recovering like she should have. 

Danelle had been staying with Mom during the night for the last few weeks, and I was surprised when she answered the phone that morning. She informed me that Mom had not had an easy night, and had been moaning in pain but refused to let Danelle call me.

It didn't sound good so I agreed to leave work immediately. As soon as I took one look at Mom, lying in her bed, I picked up the phone and called an ambulance. If death had a look, I was staring it in the face.

My sister and brother would meet us at the hospital. The three of us together could weather the worst storm. Thank God for siblings!

Later that day Mom was moved from the ER to ICU. She was given something for pain and slipped into a drug-induced coma. The doctor called the family into a small room and explained that she was suffering from congestive heart failure and had suffered irreversible liver damage. She was going to die.

I remember looking around the room at the familiar faces of my family, and watched helplessly the gamut of emotions that each person was experiencing. I couldn't believe it at first but soon came to realize that through all the rehearsals we'd been through with Mom over the years, this was the final curtain call. She had cheated death for the last time. I realized suddenly at that moment that I was losing the first love of my life and the best friend I ever had or ever would have.

I went to my Mother's bedside and took her hand in mine. I bent down and kissed her soft, sweet face. I tried reasoning with her and whispered, "Mom you can't die on Stevie's birthday. You have to pull through this." Steve's birthday is October 16^th and what a horrible birthday it would be to have his dearly beloved grandmother die on his birthday. My Mother loved him so much. Many times she said that his birth is what kept her alive all those desperate years. She loved him like he was her own child. And even in death my Mother proved to be selfless and to love unconditionally.

Mom passed away on October 15^th, 2003 at 10:15pm. She missed Steve's birthday by less than 2 hours.

Secrets ..... part 2

 

"What are you doing, Sissy?" My Mother murmured sleepily. She'd just woke from nap and found me standing at her bedroom window. I could hear her stir slightly and knew she was reaching for a cigarette on her nightstand.

Ignoring her question, I countered with one of my own. "What would you do if I told you I was pregnant?" I asked quietly, continuing to stare out her window. Too afraid to turn and face her, I blinked back the tears that stung my eyes. I heard my mother light her cigarette and set the lighter on the nightstand.

Never missing a beat my Mom asked, "Why, are you?"

"Yes." There. It was done. I had admitted it to the person that I loved and trusted most in the world. Would she despise me for compromising her trust? Would she be ashamed? I turned to look at her. "Are you mad?" I asked, sheepishly.

"No honey, I'm not mad." She held out her arms to me and I ran into them, crying softly. "Don't worry. Everything will be all right. We'll get through this together." She was stroking my hair with her soft hand, while holding me tight against her. Suddenly, I felt safe again. The fear and anxiety dissipated. I breathed a sigh of relief. As usual, my mother never failed me. I lifted my head and looked into her trusting face, tears streaking my cheeks.

"What will we do?" I asked, innocently and rightfully assuming we were in this together.

"We'll have us a baby, that's what!" She exclaimed happily smiling up at me.

I will always remember that day, and how my mother handled what I would consider a desperate situation only made worse by her 17 year old pregnant daughter. Here she was without so much as two nickels to rub together and calmly she assessed the situation I was in and came to the only conclusion - within a matter of seconds - that was feasible to her. What would I have done without my mother? I shudder to think! My Mother loved me unconditionally and I reciprocated that love. I have often asked myself if I would have handled the situation in a like manner. Not likely. I am not now, nor will I ever be even half the woman my Mother was.

On October 16, 1969 my son, Stephen was born.

Secrets

It was a cold day in February 1969, as I stood at my mother's bedroom window. Gazing out at the neighborhood that lay before me, I saw nothing. I may as well have been a million miles from that room at that moment.  What was going to happen to me after today, and what did my future hold in store?  Frightened, I was afraid to contemplate too much on any one question.

17 years old and two short months before my 18^th birthday, I was a senior in high school and would be graduating in June.

My mother's hopes were of my becoming a registered nurse. I so wanted to live up to her expectations. It was doubtful that was going to happen right now, if at all.

My mother and father were in the middle of a bitter divorce. My father had met the proverbial "other woman", and left his wife of 18 years. Turning his back on his family, he sauntered in and out of our lives as he pleased, barely giving my mother enough money to pay the utility bills and buy food. My mother was in and out of a dark depression, often drinking her sorrow and worries away with gin and vodka. I had never seen my mother like this before. She cried and drank deep into the night, stumbling off to bed in the wee hours of the morning. She always made sure she was awake to see us off to school in mornings though.

I had a habit of manipulating the situation and staying home with my mother. I'm not sure why she allowed me to stay home with her. Perhaps she wanted the company during the day, or maybe she was just too tired to fight with me about it. I invented headaches and sore throats at the drop of a hat. We become closer during this period of time than ever before.

I worried about my mother and felt so much empathy and compassion for her, that sometimes I couldn't stand it. Often times my feelings would turn into anger against her because I thought she was giving into all the hurt and depression. I felt she should fight for what was rightly hers. Instead she withdrew. She had invested 18 years of her life in a relationship with a man that she loved deeply, and now another woman was tearing her world apart.

Standing at that window that cold day in February, I wasn't thinking consciously about any of that though. All I could think about was the overwhelming feelings of anxiety, failure, shame and loneliness.

I was pregnant.

The Weekend

Today the girls are going to the groomer.  They don't know it yet and I am thankful that they don't understand and can't talk back.  Can you imagine if your dogs were sassy like your kids?  It sounds silly but think about it for a minute.  Since the girls don't particularily like going to the groomers, I'm sure they'd be crying and whining, pacing up and down the hallway after me bellering out, "Why, mom?  Why do we have to go?  I don't want to be cooped up in a crate for 3 hours!  Mooooooom!  Please don't make me go!  I want to stay home!  I hate that groomer.  She's mean!  Pleeeeeease Mom, don't take me!"  And since there are two of them it'd be double trouble.  Well, let me pull myself out of that self induced nightmare.  Thankfully it is all just a figment of an overactive imagination.

Actually if the truth were to be told I'd have to admit that I am more anxious having the girls out of my sight than they will be.  I hate it when they are away.  I worry about the latch on the crate not being fastened properly and the girls making their exit - because they are extremely fast little critters - out of the shop behind some unsuspecting dog owner who has just dropped off his own pooch.  I worry that the girls will not be put into the same crate together, and since they think they are joined at the hip, they would spend the next four hours in misery separated.  I worry that they can't go potty because they are in a crate which forces them to "hold it" until I pick them up.  I worry that they may get thirsty.  But the biggest worry is that the groomer will cut their nails a bit too short and make them bleed!  ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!  I can feel their pain - if there is any! 

On a lighter note:

While the girls are away at the groomers I intend to come back home and clean house, do some laundry, and take a shower so that I'll be ready to pick up my two little darlings around noon.  Then we will have lunch, the girls being so thankful to be home,  will curl up for an afternoon nap, and mom (me) will go shopping!  By the time I get home they will have forgotten about the groomers and once again their little black eyes will shine with adoration for me!

Can you tell I've done this before? hehe